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Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of global mortality, with thrombotic complications representing a major clinical challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the preclinical safety and pharmacological activity of Cardin, a multicomponent peptide complex derived from neonatal lamb heart tissue. Cardin was obtained through saline extraction, thermal treatment, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and purification using gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. The preparation was partially characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry, confirming the presence of multiple peptide fractions with distinct molecular masses; however, the complete amino acid sequences of individual components were not fully elucidated, and Cardin should therefore be regarded as a heterogeneous peptide mixture. In silico toxicity prediction indicated potential risks, including neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. In contrast, in vivo experimental studies demonstrated no significant acute or cumulative toxicity at the tested doses. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) was estimated to exceed 1000 mg/kg. Subacute and chronic administration did not result in observable adverse effects on behavior, body weight, or histological structure of major organs. Hematological and biochemical parameters remained within physiological ranges across all experimental groups, and no organ-specific toxicity was detected. Overall, Cardin exhibited a favorable safety profile in preclinical models despite discrepancies between computational predictions and experimental findings. These differences may reflect the limitations of in silico models when applied to complex multicomponent peptide systems. Further studies are required to clarify the contribution of individual peptide fractions and to better understand their mechanisms of action.

Keywords: Cardin; peptide complex; anticoagulant; thrombosis; hypoxia; preclinical safety; in vivo; in silico